A Pinapple flavoured drink is helping to reduce fatigue according to
an Italian (unknown)scientist.
It contains a substance called levocarnitene, which is converted in
the body to an amino acid calledcarnitene,vital for delivering energy
to muscles.
Any information on use and availability would be helpful  ( in the UK 
)

Hi bdpots-ga,

Thanks for your question.

Let's first try to get the spelling right. According to the sources I
have seen we talk about carnitine and levocarnitine, also called
l-carnitine.
It is used as a rather generic medicine and if you are interested in
the medical information, you can check it at medlineplus.

Your question is really very timely, as the Italian research was only
recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, and media
published about it about one week ago. I could not yet retrieve the
original article at the web site of the British Journal of Cancer, but
it might be coming online later.

It can be administered in several ways, and in some countries it might
even bee included in the medical health system.

As a drink it is really popular for sport and some websites claim it
can reduce your fat. You can get it in any possible taste.
I have included a few websites for buying health products online,
including carnitine containing tablets and drinks (although you would
have to mix it probably yourself with pineapple in the last case - but
then delivery in the UK is for free).
If I were you, I would go to the nearest trendy sport school. After
all the newsstories, they will have it on the shelves.

Regards,

Fons

For medical information, go to
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/levocarnitinesystemic202325.html

Two sites promoting the usage of drinks containing levocarnitine:
http://www.marylandmenus.com/surfcity.htm
http://www.jpscoffee.com/f&b_menu1.htm

Find here a media-report on the findings. I had to use a cache at the
google-site, please scroll to June 11:
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:erO8zVEmgUYC:www.msnbc.com/news/459645.asp%3F0si%3D-+levocarnitine+pineapple+UK&hl=en&ie=UTF8
Or a Reuters dispatch at http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/htmlCache/

And the site of the British Journal of Cancer:
http://www.nature.com/bjc/

For your online shopping:
http://www.completenutrition.co.uk/Products.html
http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/body-soul/product.asp?productref=DL-AB-0

Search strategy: 
Google: carnitine+pineapple(+UK)

Abstract of BJC article from Pubmed: 

Br J Cancer  2002 Jun 17;86(12):1854-7 

Potential role of levocarnitine supplementation for the treatment of
chemotherapy-induced fatigue in non-anaemic cancer patients.

Graziano F, Bisonni R, Catalano V, Silva R, Rovidati S, Mencarini E, Ferraro B,
Canestrari F, Baldelli AM, De Gaetano A, Giordani P, Testa E, Lai V.

Medical Oncology Unit, Hospital of Urbino, Via Bonconte da Montefeltro, 61029
Urbino, Italy. frada@tin.it

Ifosfamide and cisplatin cause urinary loss of carnitine, which is a fundamental
molecule for energy production in mammalian cells. We investigated whether
restoration of the carnitine pool might improve chemotherapy-induced fatigue in
non-anaemic cancer patients. Consecutive patients with low plasma carnitine
levels who experienced fatigue during chemotherapy were considered eligible for
study entry. Patients were excluded if they had anaemia or other conditions
thought to be causing asthenia. Fatigue was assessed by the Functional
Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue quality of life questionnaire. Treatment
consisted of oral levocarnitine 4 g daily, for 7 days. Fifty patients were
enrolled; chemotherapy was cisplatin-based in 44 patients and ifosfamide-based
in six patients. In the whole group, baseline mean Functional Assessment of
Cancer Therapy-Fatigue score was 19.7 (+/-6.4; standard deviation) and the mean
plasma carnitine value was 20.9 microM (+/-6.8; standard deviation). After 1
week, fatigue ameliorated in 45 patients and the mean Functional Assessment of
Cancer Therapy-Fatigue score was 34.9 (+/-5.4; standard deviation) (P<.001). All
patients achieved normal plasma carnitine levels. Patients maintained the
improved Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue score until the next
cycle of chemotherapy. In selected patients, levocarnitine supplementation may
be effective in alleviating chemotherapy-induced fatigue. This compound deserves
further investigations in a randomised, placebo-controlled study. Copyright 2002
Cancer Research UK

Stores that sell carnitine in the UK. 
www.dnavitamins.co.uk/
www.weightlossstore.co.uk/thermoserum.htm